Electrical connector and assembly thereof



6, 1966 R. J. IKINKAI 3,267,411

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF Filed Dec. 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [N VENTOR. 5255/21 75f/N K/rwm w B Y Aug. 16, 1966 R. .s. KINKAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 15, 1964 m R M 0 N E V N N 1% T W PW g- 15, 1966 R. J. KINKAID 3,267,411

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF Filed Dec. 15, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Pose/2T 115m KINKND BY M, Wm 94,94"?

United States Patent 3,267,411 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF Robert John Kinkaid, New Cumberland, Pa, assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,447 8 Claims. (Cl. 336-198) This application is a continuation-in-part of U5. application, Ser. No. 311,700, filed Sept. 26, 1963, now Patent No. 3,202,954.

This invention is directed to a connector assembly, wherein multiple contact surfaces are provided therebe tween which have flexibility to ensure excellent and positive contact along substantially the entirety of the contact surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly wherein the engagement between each contact member is always continuous, and which can be utilized in various electrical and electronic applications.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a quick connectable and disconnectable connector assernbly wherein each contact member readily connects with another contact member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction and which is highly efficient in operation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a feed-through connector assembly on which contact members electrically and mechanically engage in an excellent manner.

Other objects of the present invention will occur during the following detailed description of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a feedthrough connection assembly embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG- URE 1 and showing the contact members of FIGURE 6 in position;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom surface of the upper part of the housing member;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the housing members in stacked relationship; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the contact members'crimped onto a conductor means.

FIGURES 1-6 illustrate an embodiment of the present invention which is directed to a feed-through connection assembly 49 comprising a housing member 50 and contact members 51. Housing member 50 is made of a suitable dielectric material such as, for example, nylon, polypropylene, etc., and includes an upper part 52 and a lower part 53.

Upper part 52 has a counterbored opening 54 at each end which is in alignment with a similar opening (not shown) in lower part 53 in order to receive a securing means 55 in order to secure parts 52 and 53 together or onto a mounting means. Of course, parts 52 and 53 may be secured together in any other suitable manner, such as, by gluing, heat sealing, etc., in accordance with the characteristics of the material. A projection 56 is disposed on the upper surface of part 52 and is located between openings 54 and is in alignment therewith. Keyhole-shaped openings 57 are disposed in each side of upper part 52 and each opening 57, in one side of part 52, is in alignment with a corresponding opening 57 in the other side of upper part 52. A centrally-located projection 58 extends outwardly from the bottom surface of part 52 and includes a series of recesses 59 disposed therein. A pair of recesses 59 is disposed in projection .58 in alignment with corresponding openings 57, as illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The outer surface of lower part 53 has a channel 60 disposed therein (which is in alignment with and has the same length as projection 56. Thus, projection 56 of one housing member 50 mates with channel 66 of another housing member 50 so that these housing members can be disposed in stacked relationship, as illustrated in FIG- URE 5.

A series of equally-spaced projections 61 extend outwardly from the inner surface of part 53. A pair of lugs 62 are disposed between projection 61 and they extend outwardly from the inner surface of lower part 53 equidistantly on each side of channel 66.

Each of contact members 51 comprises a contactreceiving section 63 having ears 64 extending outwardly from the top surface thereof and recesses 65 disposed in the bottom surface in alignment with corresponding ears 64. A channel 66 is disposed in each side of contactreceiving sections 63 and the entrance to each end of channel 66 is slightly beveled at each side to facilitate the insertion of contact arms 5 and 6 of contact member 2 therein. The sides of each channel 66 are inclined toward the bottom surface of the channel, as illustrated in FIG- URE 3, in order to accommodate the V-shaped crosssectional configuration of contact arms 5 and 6.

Each end of section 63 is connected to a commoning bar 67 via legs 68. Spring-locking elements 69 extend outwardly from commoning bars 67 in alignment with respective legs 68 and they are bent back over common ing bars 67 terminating just short of section 63 in alignment with channels 66. Spring-locking elements 69 are preferably permitted to a thickness less than the other parts of the contact member prior to being formed. As can be discerned, sections 63 have been bent out of the plane containing bars 67, as evidenced by the twisted configuration of legs 68, so that sections 63 are disposed normal to commoning bars 67.

If desired, all of cont act-receiving sections 63 may be connected to commoning bars 67; however, each contactreceiving section 63 can be independent of the other contact-receiving sections or a series of two or more contact-receiving sections 63 can be commoned by means of commoning bars 67 within housing member 50.

his to be noted that contact members 51 are stamped out of suitable stock with ears 64 of one contact member formingrecesses in the next cont act member which saves material. 7

In assembly, a series of contact members 51 interconnected between commoning bars 67 are disposed in lower part 53 of housing member 56 and each contact member 51 is disposed between two projections 61 so that lugs 62 therebetween enter recesses 65. Legs 68, commoning bars 67 and spring-locking elements 69 are disposed on each side of projections 61 and the sides of lower part 63. Upper part 52 of housing member 50 is placed on top of lower part 53 and the contact members disposed the-rein. Ears 64 of each contact member 51 are accommodated in corresponding recesses 59 of projection 58 and openings 57 are in alignment with respective contact members 51. Securing means 55 is disposed within counterbored openings 54 in order to secure upper part 52 and lower part 53 together with contact members 51 disposed therein to define a completed feed-through connection assembly 49.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a contact member 2 is mounted on one side of contact member 51 with contact arms 5 and 6 disposed within channels 66 and with base portion 4 acting as a stop member to limit the movement of cont-act member 2 along contact-receiving section 63 since cars 64 also act as limiting means. Spring-locking element 69 is located behind contact arms and 6 in order to prevent the removal of contact member 2 once it has been disposed on contact member 51 unless a suitable tool (not shown) is inserted through opening 57 in order to depress spring locking element 69 in a downward direction, thereby allowing contact member 2 to be Withdrawn from engagement with contact member 51 and housing mmeber 50. Thus, when contact member 2 is inserted through opening 57 of housing member 50, contact arms 5 and 6 depress spring-locking element 69 in a downward direction and then they engage channels 66 in a resilient manner to make excellent mechanical and electrical connection therewith until base portion 4 engages ears 64 whereupon spring-locking element 69 returns to its norm-a1 position to lock the contact member in position on contact-receiving section 63. A similar contact member is placed in engagement on the other side of contact member 51, thereby effecting an interconnection therebetween via contact member 51 and other contact members 2 and 51 via commoning bars 67.

Since contact-receiving sections 63 are connected to bars 67, they are capable of carrying a large amount of current. Contact arms 5 and 6 engage contact-receiving sections 63 along the entire length thereof to provide an excellent mechanical and electrical connection therebetween.

As can be discerned, there has been disclosed a unique feed-through connection assembly that is capable of interconnecting two or any number of contact members.

While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a number of diflerent applications thereof, it is to be understood and appreciated that these are intended as merely representative and not as restrictive of the present invention, and that the present invention can be utilized in many other various applications falling within the purview of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical connector means, a contact having contact-receiving means for receiving contact means, rigid leg means extending outwardly from said contact in a direction substantially parallel to an insertion axis of said contact-receiving means, and spring-locking means extending outwardly from said leg means, extending along said leg mean toward said contact-receiving means to lock said contact means thereon and being bendable relative to said leg means.

2. In an electrical connector means according to claim 1 wherein said leg means and spring-locking means are connected to commoning bar means connected to similar electrical connector means.

3. In an electrical connector means according to claim 1 wherein said contact-receiving means is disposed normal to said spring-locking means via said leg means.

4. In an electric-a1 connector, the combination of a dielectric housing member having aligned openings therein; contact members in said housing member; means in said housing member and on said cont-act members for securing said contact members in alignment with respective aligned openings; each of said contact members having contact-receiving means for receiving contact means thereon; and spring-locking means extending outwardly from said contact-receiving means for locking said contact means thereon; said spring-locking means including a rigid section extending outwardly from said contact in a direction substantially parallel to an insertion axis of said contact-receiving means and another section spaced from said rigid section, extending toward said contactreceiving means and terminating a slight distance therefrom, said other section being bendable relative to said rigid section.

5. In an electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said contact-receiving means includes channels extending the length of said contact-receiving means to receive said contact means.

6. In an electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said contact members are connected to commoning bar means.

7. In an electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein some or all of said contact members are connected to commoning bar means.

8. An electrical connector means for receiving contact means thereon comprising a contact having contact-receiving means extending along the length thereof, rigid leg members extending outwardly from each end of said contact parallel to an insertion axis of said contact-receiving means, spring-locking members extending outwardly from said leg members toward said contact and being bend-able relative to said leg members to lock said contact means on said contact, and commoning bar means extending outwardly from at least one of said leg members for connecting to similar connector means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,158,004 5/1939 Douglas 339198 2,441,393 5/1948 Buchanan et a1. 339 3,037,183 5/1962 Hopkins 339-217 3,086,189 4/1963 Robbins 339176 3,160,459 12/1964 Greco et a]. 339 217 X FOREIGN PATENTS 808,723 7/1951 Germany.

PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR MEANS, A CONTACT HAVING CONTACT-RECEIVING MEANS FOR RECEIVING CONTACT MEANS, RIGID LEG MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CONTACT IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO AN INSERTION AXIS OF SAID CONTACT-RECEIVING MEANS, AND SPRING-LOCKING MEANS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID LEG MEANS, EXTENDING ALONG SAIDLEG MEANS TOWARD SAID CONTACT-RECEIVING MEANS TO LOCK SAID CONTACT MEANS THEREON AND BEING BENDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID LEG MEANS. 